Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY | OTCQX:LKYRF | ADR:LKYLY | FSE:X5L) advances rare earth processing pathways at Mojave Project

Locksley Resources provides an update on its research collaboration with Columbia University advancing rare earth recovery, separation and metallisation pathways for the Mojave Project in California, USA.

Highlights

• Collaboration with Columbia University advancing rare earth recovery, separation and metallisation pathways for the Mojave Project in California, USA
• Evaluation of alternative processing routes aimed at simplifying downstream flowsheets and supporting future development studies
• Conceptual processing pathways developed for bastnaesite-style mineralisation, including leaching, concentration and metallisation options
• Progress in selective recovery techniques and functional materials for targeted rare earth separation
• Advancement of rapid detection technologies to support on-site analysis of rare earth mineralisation
• Molten salt electrolysis pathways progressed as a potential alternative to conventional thermal reduction
• Program designed to inform potential development pathways and support future technical and economic studies at Locksley’s Mojave Project

The collaboration is led by Professor Greeshma Gadikota within the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and Columbia Climate School.

The work is focused on developing potential processing pathways for the recovery, separation and metallisation of rare earth elements and associated critical metals from carbonatite and bastnaesite style mineral systems, including the mineralisation style relevant to Locksley’s El Campo REE project within its Mojave Project in the Mountain Pass region.

The research program is structured around three key workstreams, ore characterisation of mineralogy, composition and morphology, processing development for rare earth element and critical metal recovery, and deployment and assessment including evaluation of economic and environmental considerations.

Recent work has established experimental protocols for selective rare earth recovery and progressed the development of materials and techniques aimed at improving separation efficiency.

In parallel, rapid detection technologies are being advanced to support real-time identification and analysis of rare earth mineralisation, with optimisation underway using Locksley samples.

This work is being progressed in parallel with exploration activities, allowing the Company to assess potential development pathways earlier in the project lifecycle.

Locksley Managing Director & CEO Kerrie Matthews said

“Locksley’s collaboration with Columbia University is providing us with access to advanced research into rare earth recovery, separation and metallisation pathways. The work completed to date is supporting our understanding of potential processing routes for our carbonatite-related mineral systems.”

Conceptual flow sheets for bastnaesite-rich ores from the El Campo site at Mojave have been proposed, including various leaching modes, co-recovery of other metals, rare earth separations and electrified metallisation.

These pathways are being evaluated to assess potential reduction in processing complexity and improvements in recovery outcomes for rare earth elements and associated critical metals.

Advances have been reported in molten salt electrolysis for rare earth metallisation coupled with salt recovery within the process loop, with this work aimed at providing an alternative to conventional carbon-based thermal reduction pathways.

The program has also progressed investigation of pre-concentration to increase rare earth concentrates in the leachate and to selectively leach rare earth elements, simplifying downstream processing.

The collaboration remains at a research and development stage, with the outcome of this work expected to support Locksley’s understanding of potential processing pathways applicable to mineralisation at its Mojave Project.

In particular, this program is aimed at assessing whether alternative recovery and separation approaches may offer opportunities to simplify downstream processing and inform future development studies, including potential pilot-scale evaluation pathways.

The Company will continue to evaluate the outcomes of this collaboration and will update shareholders as material milestones are achieved.

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